It's been a nearly perfect high school career for Marin Catholic-Kentfield quarterback Jared Goff.

Except for one thing.

He hasn't finished a season with a victory.

The Wildcats are 39-3 since the Cal-bound Goff joined the team as a sophomore, but each of the past two seasons have ended with bitter defeats - 20-15 to Encinal-Alameda in 2010 and 20-18 to Campolindo-Moraga last season.

The 2011 loss came at O.co Coliseum on the final play of the game. A victory would have surely placed the Wildcats in a CIF State Bowl Game.

Those two defeats can be largely erased for Goff and the Wildcats, who take on Madison-San Diego in the Division III Bowl Championship at noon Saturday at the Home Depot Center.

"Those losses are all part of the process," Marin Catholic coach Mazi Moayed said. "They hurt for sure. A win (Saturday) would feel great."

One of these teams will make amends. Each lost its only previous bowl game.

Marin Catholic lost 24-20 in 2009 to a Serra-Gardena (Los Angeles County) team that featured future USC receivers Marquis Lee, Robert Woods and George Farmer. In 2010, Madison dropped a 30-14 game to Escalon (San Joaquin County).

Moayed has compared Madison athletically to that Serra team because the Warhawks feature Pac-12 recruits in running back Pierre Cormier and receiver Lee Walker, both Arizona bound.

So while the 6-foot-5 Goff - and his 3,430 passing yards and 36 touchdown passes - receives most of the attention, how Marin Catholic's defense performs is critical.

The leader is third-year starting linebacker Alex Poksay, a 6-foot, 205-pounder who just received an offer this week from Southern Oregon, an NAIA school.

"He's the heart and soul of the defense and team," Moayed said. "He's a sheer football player, got a great nose to the ball and tackles exceptionally well. He understands the game. He's like a coach on the field."

The team's defensive line and secondary have played extremely well, led by junior Sam Killpack (nine interceptions). In nine of the team's past 12 games, the defense has allowed fewer than 10 points.

"We've worked all season to get to this one point," Poksay said. "Madison presents a huge test. This is the ultimate stage. We've done everything we can to prepare for it. Now we just have to play the game."